Introduction to some of the more common processes in CNC machining

Some of the more common processes for CNC operations include ultrasonic welding, drilling, and laser cutting.

lathe

In lathes, indexable cutters are used to cut parts in a circular direction. With the help of CNC technology, the cutting method adopted by the lathe can achieve high precision and high speed. CNC lathes are used to produce complex designs that cannot be achieved on manually operated machine tools. Overall, the control functions of CNC milling machines and lathes are similar. Like the former, the lathe can be controlled by G codes or unique proprietary codes. However, most CNC lathes consist of two axes-X and Z.

Plasma cutting machine

In a plasma cutting machine, a plasma torch cuts the material. This method was first applied to metallic materials, but it can also be applied to other surfaces. In order to generate the speed and heat required to cut metal, a plasma is generated by a combination of compressed air gas and an electric arc.

Discharge machine

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) (also known as die and spark machining) is a process of molding a workpiece into a special shape by electrical discharge. With EDM, a current discharge occurs between the two electrodes, thereby removing parts of a given workpiece.

When the space between the electrodes becomes smaller, the electric field becomes stronger than the dielectric, and therefore stronger. This allows current to pass between the two electrodes. Therefore, a part of the workpiece is removed by each electrode. The subtypes of EDM include:

Wire-cut electrical discharge machining (EDM), which uses spark erosion to remove parts from conductive materials.

In EDM, the electrode and the workpiece are immersed in the insulating liquid to form the workpiece.

In a process called rinsing, the debris of each finished workpiece is carried away by the liquid dielectric. Once the current between the two electrodes stops, the dielectric will appear, which is to eliminate other charges.

Waterjet

In CNC machining, a waterjet is a tool that uses high-pressure water to cut hard materials (such as granite and metal). In some cases, water will mix with sand or other highly abrasive materials. Factory machine parts are usually formed through this process.

For materials that cannot withstand the high-heat processes of other CNC machines, waterjets are used as coolers. Therefore, waterjets are used in many fields, such as aerospace and mining, where the process is very effective for engraving and cutting purposes. Water jet cutters are also used in applications that require very complex cutting of materials, because the lack of heat prevents any changes in the inherent properties of the material that may be caused by metal-to-metal cutting.